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Observation: Mineral Fork

Observation Date
12/10/2022
Observer Name
Gagne/Duvernay
Region
Salt Lake » Big Cottonwood Canyon » Mineral Fork
Location Name or Route
Mineral Fork
Weather
Sky
Overcast
Wind Direction
South
Wind Speed
Moderate
Weather Comments
Persistent gusty winds out of the south/southwest.
Snow Characteristics
Snow Surface Conditions
Dense Loose
Wind Crust
Snow Characteristics Comments
Wind was affecting the snow surface throughout the mid elevations.
HS (Height of Snow):
< 8k: 45-60 cms
8k - 9,500' 60-90 cms
Red Flags
Red Flags
Poor Snowpack Structure
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Persistent Weak Layer
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Very poor snowpack structure in Mineral Fork with a thinner and faceted snowpack. With more snow and wind in the forecast, the PWL problem will only worsen.
Comments
LOTS of quick pits today measuring snow depths and looking for a slab on top of the November facets. Where there isn't a slab present, pit results were ECTN (no propagation) with poor-quality Q2/Q3 shears. However, where there is a slab (generally above 9k), full propagation ECTs with propagation between 10 and 20 taps down ~45 cms on top of the November facets. The only slab I was finding was from the strong wind event on Wed/Thur Nov 30/Dec 1.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
Considerable